State Bar of Michigan members are gathering at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids today to honor the best in the legal profession. Twelve major SBM awards will be presented at a special banquet held in conjunction with the SBM Annual Meeting, which will run through Friday.
Roberts P. Hudson Award
Frederick M. Baker Jr. set the record as the longest-serving chairperson of a State Bar committee. For 24 years, he oversaw the SBM Publications and Website Advisory Committee, providing editorial guidance to the Michigan Bar Journal and the State Bar’s website. When he finally stepped down, he was universally praised by his colleagues.
“Fred’s record of service is extraordinary,” wrote Joseph Kimble in his nomination of Baker. “I hesitate to even guess how many volunteer hours he has spent for the State Bar, but after 24 years, it’s in the hundreds, and probably the thousands…Throughout all these years and meetings and hours, Fred has been the consummate class act. He is a kind, generous, friendly, and funny man who makes everyone he deals with feel appreciated and liked.”
Baker said he spends so much time volunteering because it feels good. “That feeling of having come to the defense of someone who cannot defend themselves—that is a reward that no other profession delivers in greater abundance than the practice of law,” Baker said.
Frank J. Kelley Distinguished Public Service Awards
John M. Barr has served the people of Washtenaw County for 53 years, including 30 years as Ypsilanti city attorney, with dedication to principle and fairness. Despite his heavy workload, Barr never wavered from his commitment to justice and democracy, which has earned him a stellar reputation among his colleagues and the citizens he serves.
“I found him to be thoughtful, respectful, and of the highest ethical character,” said Cheryl Farmer, immediate past mayor of Ypsilanti, who noted that Barr encouraged her to restore the lost practice of beginning city council meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance as well as an opening prayer or moment of silence.
Fellow attorney Dan Matson may have summed it up best when he said that Barr has a “quiet confidence” about him that has given rise to respect from his colleagues—a respect he has earned without seeking it.
Wayne County 36th District Court Judge Willie G. Lipscomb Jr.’s desire to make things right, coupled with the shooting death of a teenager he knew, led the judge to develop and launch the 36th District Court’s Handgun Intervention Program (HIP) in 1993. The program is aimed at young black males who are first or second-time offenders charged with carrying a concealed weapon and who have no other serious offenses pending. The program’s goal is preventing these young men from committing gun violence or becoming victims of gun violence themselves.
Wayne County 36th District Court Judge Cylenthia LaToye Miller, who nominated Lipscomb for the award, said the program has made a “huge difference” in the lives of participants. She praised the judge for his “integrity, fairness, leadership, excellence, dedication to principle, and to the ideals of democracy through [this program] that he founded and now administers.”
Champion of Justice Awards
Kathleen L. Bogas has dedicated a large part of her career to fighting for the proper enactment of civil rights laws, including Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. Based on feedback from her colleagues, she is excellent at it.
“Most Michiganders have been enriched by her triumphs in the civil rights arena by having more opportunities in employment and education, better workplace environments where discrimination and harassment are no longer the norm, and a champion at the ready to make sure no one stands alone when their civil rights are violated,” wrote Marla Linderman in her nomination. Over the past three decades, she has crisscrossed the country educating fellow attorneys and law students as a speaker, instructor, and mentor, which her colleagues said sets her apart.
“We practice in the same area and geographic location and compete for business,” wrote Darcie Brault in her nomination. Still, “she has provided guidance and direction to me and countless other professionals making our way.”
Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Karen Fort Hood has devoted her life to serving children, first as a teacher, then as an assistant prosecutor, and eventually as a judge. She first served children as a teacher in the Detroit Public Schools and later as a special assistant prosecutor in the Wayne County Juvenile Court, prosecuting juvenile offender and abuse and neglect cases.
“More than ever in our history, our youth face tremendous challenges and must have exceptional tools and resources to compete and excel,” she said. “I have a duty to pass on the knowledge, opportunities, and many blessings that have been bestowed upon me.”
According to her fellow judges, she has done that. “She worked tirelessly to improve the administration of our court system,” wrote Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Kirsten Frank Kelly. “I believe she demonstrates superior professional competence. She is thoughtful and dedicated to the principled application of the law. Judge Hood is a role model in every way.”
Frederick W. Lauck has devoted his career to speaking for those whose voices would otherwise go unheard. He has always worked diligently for the underdog. And his work in the courtroom has earned him the respect of judges.
“He is constantly helping those in need,” wrote U.S. District Court Judge Sean Cox in his nomination. “He is one of the very, very few lawyers who can get a not-guilty verdict in a murder-one case, a multimillion dollar verdict in a personal injury case, and successfully litigate a complex business case.”
He has also earned the undying admiration of his fellow attorneys, who have described him as a tireless advocate, a courtroom gladiator, St. George the dragon slayer, and a man to whom they would entrust their children’s lives.
Elmer L. Roller said Lauck’s “unabashed and balanced sense of justice and inexhaustible zeal for the improvement of our profession has made him a true champion of justice and a role model for other members of our profession.”
“Talk to any lawyer who has ever worked with L. R. ‘Bud’ Roegge and they will tell you he is a force like few others,” wrote his nominators. “An exemplary leader, Bud Roegge has taught all of us that being a lawyer is more than a job. It is a calling with incredible responsibilities to the profession and the community. Those who have been fortunate enough to know him and to have learned the lessons he has taught them are forever the better for it.”
He is known by his colleagues in Grand Rapids and beyond as being one of the best attorneys in the state, and he has also tirelessly volunteered for decades on committees and task forces at the local, state, and national levels to effect meaningful changes in the civil justice system. His colleagues said that what truly sets him apart from other attorneys and leaders is his capacity for giving his time, knowledge, and inspiration to others.
Thomas K. Thornburg, co-founder and co-managing attorney of Farmworker Legal Services of Michigan has worked tirelessly on behalf of Michigan’s 90,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Each summer, Thornburg and his employees pile into his worn, air-conditioner-less minivan and document the living and working conditions of migrant workers in an effort to improve their health and safety.
In 2009, Thornburg led Michigan Department of Civil Rights and Michigan Civil Rights Commission employees and commissioners on a tour to witness migrant workers’ living conditions and instituted a subsequent series of public forums for migrant workers to share firsthand testimony.
“The conditions facing migrant and seasonal workers in Michigan would never have seen the light of day but for the dedicated staff of FLS and the leadership of Tom Thornburg,” wrote George Wirth, retired MCRC director of hearings and mediation and legal counsel, in his nomination.
Thanks to Thornburg’s efforts the Michigan Department of Civil Rights released the Report on Migrant and Seasonal Farm-workers in 2010. The report garnered national attention and caused the Michigan legislature to pass a bill increasing funding for inspections of migrant housing.
John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award
Wayne State University Law School Professor Robert A. Sedler is a beloved professor and a larger-than-life constitutional scholar who has made an indelible mark in his field.
Jules B. Olsman, who nominated Sedler, said “those individuals who were fortunate enough to have Professor Sedler as a teacher continue to talk about him like they were still in his class,” adding that it would be an “understatement” to say Sedler has had a “positive impact on the law.”
Detroit attorney John P. Jacobs agreed, calling Sedler “the dean of constitutional lawyers in Michigan” and noting that “judicial waves part and legal continents move based on his years of study [and] his nearly infallible and insightful interpretation of constitutional law…The enemies of...civil liberties advance [a] counter-revolution by imperceptible gradations; nuanced changes in the law. Professor Sedler is there to call them out.”
John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award
Ann M. Ozog joined a convent of teaching nuns 61 years ago. While there she earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a dual minor in physics and chemistry from Madonna College, a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, and ultimately a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. All the while she fought for underpaid teachers and victims of domestic violence. After passing the bar in 1983, she devoted her legal career to working with Lakeshore Legal Aid before retiring in 2003.
Since her retirement, Sister Ann has traveled more than 30,000 miles to educate over 1,200 seniors about their legal rights at more than 50 community legal education events. She has also provided free legal services to nearly 1,800 needy clients.
Kimberly M. Cahill Bar Leadership Award
The Oakland County Bar Association Pro Bono Mentor Match Program brought new lawyers and needy clients together by providing experienced attorneys as mentors to newer, less-experienced attorneys who volunteer to take pro bono cases. With the mentor’s oversight and legal aid support, the protege is well-equipped to get his or her feet wet in the courtroom while providing help for those in need.
In an article about the launch of the program, OCBA Past President Jennifer M. Grieco said the program is a win-win, and quoted then-Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly as saying that the program helps new lawyers broaden their experience while learning about integrity and service “so that we support a culture where pro bono is a regular part of practice.”
Former OCBA President Kurt Schnelz, who serves as a mentor, summed up the program, saying, “It warms your heart to see lawyers doing what they should be doing, which is helping other people.”
Liberty Bell Award
Army veteran Brad Eifert is alive and well thanks largely to Army National Guard Sgt. Major David Dunckel. Eifert was charged with attempted murder and jailed for 270 days after he snapped, holed up with a gun, and dared officers to shoot him. Fortunately for Eifert, his case was transferred to the Ingham County Veteran’s Court, where Dunckel serves as a mentor to court-appointed veteran mentees struggling with post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other difficulties. Eifert eventually pleaded no contest to carrying a firearm with unlawful intent and was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to undergo treatment. Dunckel took it from there, forming a bond with Eifert and helping him heal.
John J. Wojcik, general counsel for Michigan National Guard Joint Force Headquarters, wrote that Dunckel’s mentees look up to him for guidance and stability and “Sgt. Major Dunckel is always there for them.” Eifert is now home with his wife and stepchildren. Dunckel told The New York Times that Eifert’s journey is “a long way from being over, but also said he would put his money on Eifert getting through this OK.
In addition, the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly will present its Michael Franck and Unsung Hero awards to three outstanding members of the legal community on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012 at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. The presentation will take place at 9:10 a.m. during the assembly’s general session, which is being held in conjunction with the SBM Annual Meeting.
Michael Franck Award
Judge James H. Fisher has affected many people in a positive and meaningful way. “I can honestly say I do not know if I would have enjoyed the success in my career had it not been for the guidance and caring of Judge Fisher,” said attorney Stephanie S. Fekkes.”
As a prosecutor, private attorney, and judge, Fisher’s passion for efficiency, fairness, and respect have earned him praise from lawyers on both sides of the aisle as well as from those in need and the indigent. As Barry County Circuit Court judge from 1995 to 2011, he transformed the court into a model for the state. His charitable work has helped hundreds of adults and children in need.
And his dedication to improving Michigan’s indigent defense system has already changed the legal profession for the better. In 2010, Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Fisher as chair of the Michigan Indigent Defense Advisory Commission (IDAC), and Fisher has not disappointed.
Chief Judge Thomas P. Boyd from the 55th District Court in Mason said, “Judge Fisher has been an exemplary leader as chair of the IDAC,” where he “has fostered an environment of respect and creativity.”
Unsung Hero Awards
Judy B. Calton saw a broken bankruptcy process. The court was bogged down and debtors who should have obtained bankruptcies simply could not afford a lawyer to help them get a fresh start.
That’s when she came up with the novel idea of creating a nonprofit fund to subsidize attorneys representing debtors who could not otherwise afford a lawyer.
She set up the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Access to Bankruptcy Court, and then found a way to fund it. After obtaining a $10,000 grant for start-up costs, she held a fundraiser that included a silent auction, which included about 50 bottles of wine from her own private collection, and raised nearly $5,000. Since its inception, the program has saved several individuals from horrible financial circumstances.
In nominating Calton, the organization’s board called her “one of the finest bankruptcy attorneys in Michigan, but said her willingness to use her talents to improve the lives of those less fortunate than herself is what makes her an unsung hero.”
By day, Jeffrey S. Kopp is a highly successful commercial litigator. At every other time, he is a superhero advocate who has helped hundreds of people who otherwise may have been left in the dark.
While on assignment in Iraq as a member of the Army and JAGS Corps, Kopp safeguarded the rights of detainees and worked with Red Cross officials to assure that captives were receiving humane treatment under the Geneva Convention. Foley & Lardner Managing Partner Daljit Doogal said Kopp’s work for the detainees “helped erase the stain of Abu Ghraib.”
Following his return from Iraq, Kopp began volunteering more than 100 hours a year. Among other things, he heads up a program serving reserve members and their families in Michigan and Ohio, and volunteers as a lawyer for Project Salute, a pro bono program of the University of Detroit Mercy Law School that travels throughout Michigan offering free legal advice to low-income veterans on federal veterans’ disability and pension benefits claims.
Of his pro bono philosophy, Kopp says, “When you represent someone pro bono and take out the financial interest, the entire process becomes more pure.”
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